Termite poison applicator



1964 R. E. IMUS ETAL TERMITE POISON APPLICATOR Filed May 11. 1961 A 055/27 E /Mus 5 5257? 5 C24 vase INVENTORS Afro/aways United StatesPatent 3,118,726 TERNHTE POISON APFLICATOR Rohert E. Imus, 839 WoodlandDrive, Sierra Madre, Cairn, and Everett E. Crauder, 314 Linwood Ave,Monrovia, Calif.

Filed May 11, 1961, Ser. No. 109,377 4 Claims. (Cl. 21-73) Thisinvention relates to termite poison applicator, and included in theobjects of this invention are:

First, to provide a termite poison applicator wherein a cartridgecontaining a sealed charge of poison is inserted in a hole previouslydrilled in a body of wood, then the cartridge shell is extracted,leaving the charge intact and sealed in the hole.

Second, to provide a termite poison applicator which is particularlyadapted for placing poison in powder form in a previously drilled hole,but may be utilized to place a liquid or semiliquid charge of poisontherein; this being made possible by a novel seal spacer member carriedin the cartridge which prevents axial compaction of a powdered poison,or compression of a liquid or semiliquid poison.

Third, to provide a termite poison applicator which invclves a noveltool element for effecting transfer of the poison from the cartridgeshell and extraction of the cartridge shell.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter,reference is directed to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top or end view of the termite poison applicator shown inposition for insertion of the poison cartridge into a previouslyprepared hole;

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary, side view thereof, showing the applicatorafter the contents of the cartridge have been placed in thepoison-receiving bore;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing in section a woodenmember which has been bored to receive the poison, and showing theapplicator as it appears during the process of extracting the cartridgeshell and depositing the poison;

FIGURE 5 is a further enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view of thecartridge as it appears before use;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the plug members and spacer member whichfit within the cartridge shell;

FIGURE 7 is a still further, enlarged, transverse, sectional view takenthrough 7-7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view showing the outer portion of awooden member is which the poison has been placed and sealed.

The termite poison applicator includes a cartridge structure and anextractor structure.

The cartridge structure includes a cartridge shell 1 formed of thin walltubing of uniform diameter except for an extractor-receiving neckportion 2 near one end. Fitted within the cartridge shell 1, adjacentthe neck portion 2, is an outer, radially expandable, sealing plug 3,which may be formed of a closed pore, cellular plastic material. Theopposite or distall end of the cartridge shell 1 is also provided withan inner sealing plug 4, which is preferably tapered so as to be wedgedinto the cartridge shell 1.

Interposed between the plugs 3 and 4 is a spacer 5 in the form of a thinstrip of metal or plastic, which has been folded to form a V in crosssection, as shown in FIGURE 7. The outer end of the spacer strip 5 iscemented or soldered to a small disk which forms a head 6 abutting theouter sealing plug 3.

The confronting faces of the head 6 and outer sealing plug 3 arepreferably cemented together. The space between the sealing plugs 3 and4 and surrounding the 3,118,725 Patented Jan. 21, 1964 "ice spacer 5 isfilled within a poison charge 7, which may be in granular or powderedform, or may actually be in liquid or semiliquid form.

The sealing plugs 3 and 4 normally, adequately seal the ends of thecartridge shell 1 to prevent escape of the poison charge 7. However, theplugs may be recessed from the ends of the cartridge shell 1 and asealing material 8 applied over the outer ends of the plugs 3 and 4.

The extractor structure comprises a V-shaped frame 9 formed of a stripof spring material having arms 10 and 11, which are curved in crosssection for stiffness and are joined together by a semicircular springportion 12. The extremity of the arm 19 is curved to form an open loop13 bifurcated at its extremity to form extractor fingers 14 which fitinto the neck portion 2 of the cartridge shell 1.

A guide hole 15 is formed in the arm 10 in alignment with the slot whichseparates the extractor fingers 14. A plunger 16 in the form of a wiredimensioned to pass through the neck portion 2 of the cartridge shell 1is slidable in the guide hole 15. The plunger 16 also extends throughthe arm 11 adjacent its extremity and terminates in a coiled end 17,which permits limited pivotal movement of the plunger 16 with respect tothe arm 11.

Operation of the termite poison applicator is as follows:

The wooden structure which is to be protected against termites or whichhas been found to be infested with termites, is prepared by drilling atstrategic locations a number of holes. For example, these holes may bemade by a /4 drill and are of a depth of at least equal to the length ofthe cartridge.

A cartridge shell 1 is then inserted between the extractor fingers 14and is held therein by inserting the plunger 16 until the plunger is inengagement with the sealing plug 3. The cartridge shell 1 is theninserted into the previously prepared bore until limited by engagementof the extractor fingers 14 with the outer end of the member in whichthe bore is formed. The arms 16 and 11 of the V-frame 9 are then broughttogether while the plunger 16 is held against the outer sealing plug 3.

This has the effect of discharging the contents of the cartridge shell 1into the bore; or, stated otherwise, holding the contents of thecartridge shell 1 in the bore while the cartridge shell is extractedtherefrom. When the cartridge shell 1 has been removed from the sealingplug 3, it expands and seals against the walls of the bore, as indicatedin FIGURE 8.

It is preferred that the poison charge 7 be in a mobile condition sothat it spreads freely into contact with the walls of the bore. This ismade possible by the use of the spacer 5 which prevents compaction ofthe poison charge 7, if it be in granular or powdered form, or preventsexertion of pressure, which might force it past the sealing plugs 3 and4, if it be in liquid or semiliquid form.

If desired, principally for purposes of appearance, the outer end of thebore in which the poison has been deposited may be closed with a sealingcompound 18.

While a particular embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, it is not intended to limit the same to the exact details ofthe construction set forth, and it embraces such changes, modifications,and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as comewithin the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A termite poison applicator adapted for insertion in a previouslyprepared bore, said applicator comprising:

a. a tubular cartridge shell dimensioned to fit freely in said bore;

b. sealing plugs at the inner and outer ends of said shell with respectto said bore;

c. a poison charge Within said shell between said plugs; d. and spacermeans also extending between said plugs to transmit a force from saidouter plug to said inner plug thereby to prevent compaction of saidpoison charge, whereby said plugs, poison charge, and spacer 163215 areretainable as a unit in said bore, on extraction of said shelltherefrom; e. said outer plug being expansible to engage the Walls ofsaid bore on extraction of said shell. 2. A termite poison applicatoradapted for insertion in previously prepared bore, said applicatorcomprising:

a. a tubular shell dimensioned for free insertion in said bore andextraction therefrom;

b. inner and outer sealing plugs for said shell;

0. a rigid spacer disposed between said plugs;

d. a mobile poison charge also disposed between said plugs;

e. said outer plug being exposed for engagement to retain said plugs,spacer, and poison charge in said bore on extraction of said shelltherefrom;

said outer plug also being radially expansible for sealing engagementwith the Walls of said bore on extraction of said shell.

3. A termite poison applicator adapted for insertion in previouslyprepared bore, said applicator comprising:

a. a tubular shell for insertion into said here and ex tractiontherefrom, said shell having a neck portion adjacent its outer end forextraction of said shell, said neck portionforming an internalconstriction;

b. an outer plug disposed adjacent said constriction;

c. an inner plug adjacent the inner end of said shell;

d. a rigid spacer disposed between said plugs;

e. a mobile poison charge also disposed between said plugs;

f. sealants covering the exposed sides of said plugs to seal said poisoncharge in said shell;

g. said outer plug being exposed for engagement to retain said plugs,spacer, and poison charge in said bore on extraction of said shelltherefrom;

It. said outer plug also being radially expansible for sealingengagement'with the Walls of said bore on extraction of said shell.

. A termite poison applicator, comprising:

a tubular cartridge shell including an extraction means at one end;inner and outer sealing plugs for said shell;

a rigid spacer disposed between said plugs;

and a mobile poison charge also disposed between said plugs;

e. said tubular cartridge shell and its contents adapted to beintroduced into a Wooden member to be treated;

said outer plug being exposed for engagement to re tain said plugs,spacer, and poison charge in said wooden member on extraction of saidshell therefrom;

g. said outer plug also being radially expansible for sealing engagementWith said Wooden member on extraction of said shell.

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Referen'ees tilted in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSOTHER REFERENCES Bennett: U. of Calif., Ag. Ex. Stat, Circ. 321, March35 193i, pp. 19, 12, 8 and 9. (Copy in 47-575.)

1. A TERMITE POSION APPLICATOR ADAPTED FOR INSERTION IN A PREVIOUSLYPREPARED BORE, SAID APPLICATOR COMPRISING: A. A TUBULAR CARTRIDGE SHELLDIMENSIONED TO FIT FREELY IN SAID BORE; B. SEALING PLUGS AT THE INNERAND OUTER ENDS OF SAID SHELL WITH RESPECT TO SAID BORE; C. A POISONCHARGE WITHIN SAID SHELL BETWEEN SAID PLUGS; D. AND SPACER MEANS ALSOEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PLUGS TO TRANSMIT A FORCE FROM SAID OUTER PLUG TOSAID INNER PLUG THEREBY TO PREVENT COMPACTION OF SAID POISON CHARGE,WHEREBY SAID PLUGS, POISON CHARGE, AND SPACER MEANS ARE RETAINABLE AS AUNIT IN SAID BORE, ON EXTRACTION OF SAID SHELL THEREFROM; E. SAID OUTERPLUG BEING EXPANSIBLE TO ENGAGE THE WALLS OF SAID BORE ON EXTRACTION OFSAID SHELL.